Circuit closer



E. G. PEYTON CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Sept. 30, 1925 {Z4 a U ion INVENTOR June 14, 1927.

ATTORN EY Patented June 14, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFHCE- EPHRAIM G. PEYTON, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CIRCUIT Application filed September This invention relates to electrical apparatus, particularly to circuit closers, and has for its object the plOVlSlOli of a novel device pa 'ticularly designed for use beneath a rug. carpet, mat or the like and operable o complete a circuit through a call boil, or Elie signal. and to produce a light or reduce he iuui'isity of a light oi temporary dura- Rrn iin jiortant object the provision of a device ofthis character of such construction that there will be no metallic parts, buttons or other similar elements in contact; with the rug or other floor covering and tending to Wear the same unduly.

.Siimther object is to provide a device of this character which is substai'itially that so as not to produce any noticeable hump or rise in the floor covering. 7

Another object is to provide a device oi this character, which is movable and easily adjustable to location convenient to the operator.

Another object is to provide a device oi this character for producing a light of temporary duration or of temporarily reducing the intensity of a light, for instance to enable the driver ot a motor drawn vehicle to operate a spot light or to dim his lights, with- 30 out removing a hand from the steering Wheel.

An additional object the provision of a circuit closer of this character which Will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, eliicient and durable in service, a general improvement in the art, and tend ing to promote safety in the operation of motor drawn vehicles.

lVith the above and other objects and ad vantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated inthc accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a View showing the device 10 cated beneath a rug or the like,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device on a larger scale,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan View thereof,

Figure i; is a section taken on the line are of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the contact carrying member.

Referring more particularly to the draW- ings I have shown the device as comprising 5? a liat base member of flexible material such as leather, rubber or the like, the exact material being a matter of choice though it should have insulating qualities. Though it is not essential, this base is shown as oi elongated form with one end portion 11 widened and itil'li'lfitl with an arcuate slit 12 defining a flexible tongue 13. at spaced. points the base is tor-med with transverse slits 14 defining tongues l5 therebetween through which or beneath which maybe fi threaded the current ijwarrying wires 16 which will thus be anchored to the base.

lvlounted on the underside oi? the base at the tongue portion 13 thereof is a supporting block" or plate 17 of ri l but insulating nnterial upon which is secured a metallic I in which constitutes the stationary con tact, one end oi this ship being held. by a screw 19 and. the other being formed with a tongue or extension 20 bent about the free end of the member 17. Likewise secured upon the member 17 as by a screw 2i is a spring metal strip 22 constituting the i'novable contact. This strip 22 is nori'nally' spaced. from the strip 18 and has its free end formed with angularly extending lugs 23 which are passed through the tongue por tion 13 oil? the base and clinched. By this means the member 17 is anchored With respect to the base. The tongue portion 13 is formed with holes 24 permitting access to the screws 19 and ii these latter constituting terminal means to which the conducting Wll'QS are connected.

In use, the device is placed beneath a rug, carpet, mat or other floor or table covering indicated a, A. As the device substantially flat there will be no perceptible hump, bulge or rise to dis'ligure the appearance. lVhcnever it is desired to close the circuitthrough a call bell light or other device with which the circuit closer may be associated, it is merely necessary to apply pres sure to the rug or other covering at a point above or near the resilient tongue 13 to eiifeet downward. movement thereof and consequent enga 'ement oi? the movable contact 22 with the stationary contact 18. Ohviously the device is easy to operate and it is believed that the construction and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art Without further explanation.

While I have shown and dose ibed a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should. be understood that I reserve the right 119 to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A circuit closer ot the character described comprising a flat member of insulating material having one end portion formed with a partially circular cut to define a flexible tongue, a flat supporting member of insulating material secured beneath said member, a stationary metal contact strip mounted on said fiat supporting member, a spring contact member secured upon said tlat supporting member and normally arranged in spaced relation to said stationary contact, said spring contact having a head portion tormed with penetrating elements engaged through said resilient tongue.

2. A circuit closer of the character de scribed comprising a flat member of insulating material having one end portion formed with a partially circular cut to define a flexible tongue, at tlat supporting member 0t insulating material secured beneath said member, a stationar3 metal contact strip mounted on said tlat supporting member, a spring contact member secured upon said tlat supporting member and norm-all arranged in spaced relation to said stationary contact, said spring contact ha ;ing a head portion formed with penetrating elements engaged through said resilient tongue, said first named member being provided with a plurality of spaced transverse slits, and a conducting cable threaded through said slits and embodying two conducting wires connected with said respective contact strips.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

EPHRAIM G. PEYTON. 

